Natural fiber application due to its competitiveness attracted many research in green composites. However, the tensile properties of natural fiber composites might be influenced by several factors such as treatment of the fibers, manufacturing processes, and water absorption levels. In this research, we use petung bamboo fibers as natural fibers candidate for a good reinforcement in green composites. The study focused on the tensile property of bamboo fiber reinforced epoxy composites due to alkali treatment, manufacturing process, and water absorption. The composites were made with three variations: the fibers were varied without and with alkaline treatment (5% NaOH); manual lay-up method and hot press were applied as manufacturing variation; moisture content in the composites was varied in dry condition and after water absorption treatment. Tensile testing and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), were performed to improve tensile strength of composite and fiber-matrix interface quality. The alkali treatment has less effect to the tensile strength than of the volume fraction gain and the void content. Composite manufacturing by hot press has a significant effect to the improvement of tensile strength up to 37% compare to the hand lay-up method. Water absorption up to 8.8% had decreased the tensile strength of composites up to 29%. The alkali treatment on the bamboo fibers had effectively reduced water absorption into the composite as well as the tensile strength reduction.
In the last few decades, the global community's demands are getting stronger for more environmentally friendly materials. Natural fiber reinforced composites have been applied as reinforcement in concrete, sound absorbers, buildings, aeronautical, aerospace, sanitation, electronics, bridge decks, interior, automotive, sports equipment and furniture industries, modular structures, and others. Natural fibers are receiving high attention due to their sustainability, environmental friendliness, low density, low cost, low abrasiveness, renewability, and biodegradability, as well as contributing to the consumption of CO2 gas. As reported by many researchers, Indonesia has several natural resources for natural fibers such as bark fiber, leaf fiber, seed/fruit fiber, grass fiber, stalk fiber, and wood fiber.
Depletion of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases is an essential issue in the development of the automotive industry. From the design stage, material selection becomes the most crucial factor. Therefore, this article discusses the development of lightweight automotive materials for increasing fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Material reliability is assessed by how much weight reduction can be achieved, production costs, safety and durability. Ferro materials (mild steel, High Strength Steel, and Advanced High Strength Steel), non-ferrous (aluminium and magnesium alloy), and Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) have been proven to reduce the total weight of vehicles up to 12.6%. Confirmation of statistical data from the literature illustrates the possibility of using lightweight material to achieve zero CO2 emission. In addition, the 12.6% weight reduction still meets the vehicle safety factor.
Kenaf fiber has been studied for biocomposites reinforcement due to its renewable and carbon neutrality. Meanwhile, polypropylene sheets are easily processed and considered a prospective thermoplastic matrix source for biocomposites. Hence, the combination of both materials is expected to form an attractive biocomposite. This study aimed to optimize permanganate treatment on tensile properties and water absorption of kenaf-reinforced propylene biocomposites. It thermally tested kenaf fibers and PP using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) before performing compression molding at 185°C and 70 bars using the film stacking method. The kenaf fiber variables were untreated, alkaline pre-treated, and alkaline-permanganate treated to low concentrations of 0.01 to 0.05 wt% of KMnO4. Furthermore, this study conducted Yarn tensile test and Weibull distribution to find a strength variability statistically. Composite tensile and burn tests were performed to obtain tensile strength, constituent materials, and void volume fractions. Composites fractography was implemented to examine the effect of permanganate on composite water uptake behavior using scanning electron microscopy. This study used low concentration in permanganate treatments than several previous studies. The results showed that biocomposites have a tensile strength of 125 MPa, higher than in previous studies that found a value less than 80 MPa. This study has contributed to the green optimization treatment using lower chemical concentrations but with better results on impregnation, interfacial, water absorption, and mechanical properties of kenaf or polypropylene composites.
ABSTRAKSIFAT TARIK KOMPOSIT EPOKSI BERPENGUAT SERAT BAMBU AKIBAT PENYERAPAN AIR. Serat bambu memiliki potensi sebagai serat penguat pengganti serat gelas dalam pembuatan komposit polimer, karena sifatnya yang terbaharui dan ramah lingkungan. Namun daya serap air yang tinggi pada serat bambu dapat menurunkan sifat tarik komposit yang dihasilkan. Hal ini akibat memburuknya ikatan antarmuka serat dan matriks. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji degradasi sifat tarik biokomposit epoksi berpenguat serat bambu petung akibat penyerapan air. Biokomposit epoksi berpenguat serat bambu petung dibuat dengan metode tekan panas dengan variasi serat tanpa alkalisasi (0 % NaOH) dan dengan alkalisasi (5 % NaOH). Pengujian biokomposit, dilakukan dengan cara uji air mendidih, uji tarik dan Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Kadar penyerapan air biokomposit tanpa alkalisasi lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan biokomposit yang telah mengalami alkalisasi (5 % NaOH). Penyerapan air mengakibatkan degradasi pada biokomposit dan menurunkan kekuatan tarik biokomposit hingga 23 %. Perlakuan alkali 5 % NaOH, dapat meminimalisir persentase penurunan kekuatan biokomposit, dengan persentase penurunan kekuatan tarik sebesar 17 %. Hasil pemeriksaan pada permukaan patahan menunjang hasil pengujian tarik. Akibat penyerapan air, kekuatan tarik komposit epoksi bambu petung menurun karena sifat serat dan antarmuka serat matriks telah terdegradasi. ABSTRACT TENSILE PROPERTIES DECREMENT OF THE BAMBOO FIBER REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITE DUE TO WATER ABSORPTION.Bamboo fiber has potential as reinforcing fibers as subtitute to glass fiber for polymer composites, due to their renewable properties and environmental friendly. However, high water absorption in bamboo fibers, can reduce tensile properties of composites due to poor fiber-matrix interface. This research aims to study degradation of tensile properties of bamboo fiber reinforced epoxy composites caused by water absorption. Bamboo petung fiber reinforced epoxy biocomposites were fabricated by means compression molding method with fiber variations without alkalization (0 %) and with alkalization (5 %). Biocomposite examinations were carried out by means of water boiling test, tensile test and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Water absorption of biocomposite without alkalization is higher than biocomposite with alkalization (5 % NaOH). Water absorption caused degradation on the biocomposites, and decreased the tensile strength up to 23 %. Alkalization 5 % NaOH minimized the percentage reduction of tensile strength with percentage reduction of tensile strength for 17 %. The results of examination on surface fracture support the tensile test results. Water absorption has lowered composite tensile strength due to occurrence of properties degradation on both fiber and fiber-matrix interface.
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